IN BRIEF:

Del Potro picks first win in a year

Argentine edges out Spains Lopez

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Sydney, Jan 10, Reuters:,

Jan 10 2011, 21:53pm ist

updated: Jan 10 2011, 21:53pm ist

The 22-year-old Argentine has played only two tournaments since having surgery last May on a wrist injury that hampered his Australian Open campaign last year, losing in the first round in both. Del Potro, who won the 2009 US Open final against Roger Federer, showed great determination after trailing by a set and again in the second set tiebreak.

The third set was just as close and Del Potro was forced to save six break points before appropriately clinching victory with one of his savage flat forehands.

Earlier, defending champion and second seed Marcos Baghdatis pulled out of the tournament with a groin strain.

Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber overcame a slow start to advance to the second round of the Auckland Classic with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Argentina's Carlos Berlocq. Spain's Tommy Robredo, who made the final on the central Auckland courts in 2007, was forced into a unexpected battle against New Zealand wildcard Michael Venus in an earlier match before coming through 6-,7 6-3, 6-0.

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